Police Continue Search For Suspect In Auto Shop Assault

Nathaniel "Nate" Chambers Is Wanted On Assault Charges, Police Say

SOUTH WINDSOR — Police are looking for a suspect in an attack on an employee and owner of a local auto shop.

Nathaniel "Nate" Chambers, 27, who lives in an apartment at 144 Pratt Street in Meriden, is wanted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, Sgt. Scott Custer said. Police hold a warrant for his arrest.

"Chambers was known to the victims," Custer said.

Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911 immediately, he said. People with other information about Chambers or the assault are asked to call the South Windsor police at 860-644-2551.

Detectives continue to investigate the case, he said, and are pursuing leads about other possible suspects.

Robert Lareau, 28, the owner of Forced Induction Motor Sports, and Ryan Kelleher, 21, a worker, suffered blunt head trauma during the assault at the Edwin Road business Tuesday night, police said.

The attack left Lareau in critical condition at Hartford Hospital; Kelleher was in fair condition. Their conditions remained unchanged Thursday, hospital spokeswoman Rebecca Stewart said.

Investigators are considering the possibility that the assault may have stemmed from a business dispute, Custer said earlier Thursday.

There are no records of crimes taking place at the address in recent years, he said. There was a minor accident and a report of a person who raised suspicions during a car show, but there were no arrests.

Kelleher called police at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday to say that he and Lareau had been attacked at the auto shop, police said. The shop does work on high-performance vehicles.